Monday, November 09, 2015

Oca: Ombuds’s ruling; ‘harsh, cruel, excessive’

CAGAYAN de Oro (BEN BALCE/Golden Journal) - City Mayor Oscar Moreno, of Cagayan De Oro City,
described the Ombudsman’s order dismissing him as City Mayor as “harsh and a
miscarriage of justice.”

The Office of the Ombudsman has issued a press release
Thursday, dismissing Moreno and two other Mayors in Mindanao for Grave
Misconduct, Serious Dishonesty, Gross Neglect of Duty, and Conduct Prejudicial
to the Best Interest of the Service.

In a statement released to the local media, Moreno said
he has not received the order of the Ombudsman to dismiss him from service and
criticized the Ombudsman for not giving credit to his counter affidavit.

While Moreno said that he has not received the order he
mentioned in his statement that “the Ombudsman resolution cited him for not
submitting a counter affidavit within the prescribed period.”

He said that he would file a motion for reconsideration
with the Ombudsman and a restraining order with the Court of Appeals (CA)
arguing that the dismissal was harsh and a “miscarriage of justice.”

In a press release posted on the official website of the
Ombudsman, Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales approved the decision to dismiss
Moreno and the Cagayan De Oro City Treasurer Glenn Banez on Oct. 6, 2015.

The Ombudsman found Moreno to have committed Grave
Misconduct for entering into a settlement agreement with Ajinomoto Philippines
without prior authorization from the Sangguniang Panlungsod in violation of
R.A.No. 7160 (The Local Government Code).

The agreement allowed Ajinomoto to pay Php 300,000
instead of its original local business tax deficiency of Php 2.9 million.

The Office of the Ombudsman ruled that the approval of
the agreement by the court cannot, in any way, legitimize the acts of Moreno.

CDO vice mayor prepares to take oath as city mayor

Meanwhile, Cagayan De Oro City Vice Mayor Ian Acenas will
reportedly take his oath of Office as the City Mayor replacing City Mayor Oscar
Moreno anytime, a member of the city council said Thursday.

City Councilor Alex Dacer said that the members of the
City Council are waiting for the receipt of the Ombudsman order dismissing City
Mayor Oscar Moreno from service.

Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales approved the dismissal
of Moreno last October 6 for Grave Misconduct after entering into a settlement
agreement with Ajinomoto Philippines without prior authorization from the
Sangguniang Panlungsod in violation of Republic Act No. 7160 (The Local
Government Code).

Dacer said that the moment that the Secretary of the City
Council receives the official order, the City Council would immediately pass a
resolution installing Vice Mayor Acenas as the City Mayor.

“By operation of the law, Acenas would succeed as the
City Mayor once the incumbent City Mayor is evicted from office,” Dacer said.

He said that Moreno could file a motion for
reconsideration with the Ombudsman and a temporary restraining order (TRO) with
the Court of Appeals (CA), but he must vacate the post to give way to the Vice
Mayor.

Dacer cited the case of Mayor Junjun Binay of Makati
where he has to vacate the office after receiving the dismissal order from the
Ombudsman, although Binay has filed a motion for reconsideration and a TRO with
the CA.

A former Vice Mayor Antonio Soriano, now an independent
lawyer, said that considering that the election is getting near, he expressed
the doubts that Moreno could get a TRO with the CA.

If Moreno could not get a TRO from the CA before the
election, it would also be possible that Moreno’s certificate of candidacy
(COC) would be forfeited since he would be banned from holding public office,
Soriano said.

Moreno is running for reelection and, alone, has filed a
COC under the Liberal Party (LP) political party last October 13, 2015 to the
consternation of the local LP lineup. (BEN BALCE with PNA)

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Why do we have to care for ‘Cinchona’ trees in Bukidnon

Cinchona tree

Cinchona alkaloids are widely used in the pharmaceutical and chemical industry. The most popular compound Quinine is a valuable antimalarial agent and muscle relaxant compound for more than 100 years, its „pseudo enantiomer“ Quinidine is used as a cardiac depressant (antiarrhythmic). Furthermore Quinine is also an important bitter agent in the beverage (soft drink) industry.

Bark of Cinchona tree

Cagayan de Oro Journal on-line manager Ben Balce (left) exchanging words to Bukidnon’s provincial environment officer Felix Mirasol (2nd from right) during the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in region 10’s (DENR-10) three-day “Press Privilege Tour” which showcased some of the DENR projects in Misamis Oriental and Bukidnon. Upper photo shows the participants, mostly media practitioners from the region as they strike a pose with DENR officials.

WHY do we have to care for our environment? Why does the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Region 10 care for “cinchona” trees in Bukidnon province?

These are two basic questions that cropped up after the DENR-10 hosted a three-day “Press Privilege Tour” which showcased some of the DENR projects in Misamis Oriental and Bukidnon.

While people have different views in caring for the environment, observers say that there is a need to care for the environment because it is the life and legacy of the next generation.

On one hand, the government, especially the DENR, sees-to-it that forest lands are well managed, protected and wisely utilized thus it has implemented the “Cinchona Forest Reserve,” in Barangay Kaatoan in Lantapan, Bukidnon.

To give you a better idea on what “cinchona” tree is, here is what an official of DENR-10 tells me:

During the lecture on Expanded Forest Protection at Cinchona Reforestation Project, Regional Forest Protection Task Forest chief Ernesto L. Lezada of DENR 10 said the Cinchona Forest Reserve in the province of Bukidnon was first established sometime in 1929 by the defunct Bureau of Forestry.

Its first Project Manager Forester Altamerano whose objective is to produce cinchona bark or the so-called “bark wealth” for the purpose of producing anti-malaria drugs, according to Lezada, headed it.

The cinchona species, according to Mt. Kitanglad Range Natural Park protected area superintendent Felix Mirasol was introduced originated from Java, Indonesia. He said that the first trial planting showed suitability of the species to the area. The next several years was engaged in the massive planting of the species that reached up to 500 hectares including nursery establishments.

With this encouraging development, on September 22, 1936 Commonwealth President Manuel L. Quezon issued the Presidential Proclamation no. 83 declaring the 1,994 hectares as the Kaatoan Forest Reserve for experimental planting of quinine, forest protection and timber production.

With the outbreak of World War II in 1941, the planting was stopped.

Ecosystem Research and Development Division chief Danilo C. Cacanindin said that in 1943, the Kaatoan Forest Reserve including Barangay Kaatoan were made as Japanese garrison and took possession of the area until 1945. A year after, the Americans soldiers occupied Barangay Alanib, few kilometers from Kaatoan.

Cacanindin said that a joint American and Filipino soldiers coming from Talakag, Bukidnon engaged the Japanese soldiers in a fierce fight at Cinchona. Outnumbered and with so many casualties, the Japanese soldiers retreated and left the place. On the other hand, the Americans stayed for a while at Cinchona but left in the same year of 1945.

The following year, cinchona plantation establishment and nursery activities resumed under Forester Tadeo, who served as its project manager. Accordingly, the former project manager Altamerano was killed during the Japanese occupation along with a number of plantation workers and local residents of the area.

In 1956, the whole area was reclassified as alienable and disposable land by then President Ramon Magsaysay by virtue of Presidential Proclamation no. 364. This revoked earlier Proclamation no. 83. It meant that the whole area was opened for cultivation for agricultural purposes and titling to private individuals.

However, the Bureau of Forestry continued its management and protection the reason why not all of the forest reserve were occupied by private individuals and applied for titling.

In 1961 to 1962, the area was also planted with other fast growing tree species such as Falcata, Mahogany and Eucalyptus. Presently, these trees have attained over maturity and are now towering the cinchona compound with an average diameter from 120 to 200 centimeters.

In 1966 to 1968, Hucomad and Jiram companies conducted the First harvesting of the cinchona bark with raw materials directly exported to Brazil. The second harvesting was took place in 1972-73.Thereafter, the plan for harvesting has stopped for reason that malaria illness had been controlled and that other countries have already found alternative source of materials for the manufacture of Malaria drugs. Since then, the price of cinchona bark has gone down and harvesting was no longer feasible.

On July 11, 1988, former President Corazon C. Aquino issued presidential proclamation No. 283 declaring the whole area for “Quinine and Reservation and Experimental” purposes. The proclamation strengthens the status of the project existence and closes all legal issues on the intention of the area.

On November 9, 2000, Congress through the recommendation of the President passed Republic Act 8978 also known as the Mt. Kitanglad Act of 2000, which included the whole of Cinchona area as part of the Mt. Kitanglad Range Natural Park.

The Cinchona plantation in the province of Bukidnon is the only plantation found in the whole country to date. The 7 cinchona species planted are calisaya, hybrid, kartamanah, officinalis, succirubra, tjinjiroan and ledgeriana. The present plantation manifests Filipino expertise in tree growing which now becomes the host to some endangered faunal species in the world.

Cinchona area is also host to 5 series of waterfalls of Kulasihan River and sacred ground to our brother Indigenous Peoples. In the recently built table and IP ritual building, giant bamboos and kilala had grown which manifest the activities of the earlier IP’s in the area.

The Kulasihan River is a wonder. In the upstream, the water is visible but further away downstream, the whole river is gone. Many believed that it is an underground river whose exit is the Matin-ao Spring in Barangay Bangcud, which are several kilometers away from the source.

Protecting the environment is not the responsibility of the DENR alone but the responsibility of all. The efforts of our foresters for they are continuously preserving the cinchona trees in Bukidnon through its project “Cinchona Forest Reserve,” in Barangay Kaatoaan, Lantapan, Bukidnon, is one way of caring the environment. (Ben Balce)

NORTHERN Mindanao Medical Center

Northern Mindanao Medical Center (NMMC), a center of wellness and excellence, DOH accredited tertiary hospital in Region 10, is a 300-bed capacity care institution. Formerly known as Northern Mindanao Regional Training hospital (NMRTH), it was renamed in its present classification as a Medical Center by virtue of RA 7938 on March 11, 1995.NMMC is located within the Provincial Capitol Compound in Cagayan de Oro City in Misamis Oriental, Mindanao, Philippines. It was now headed by NMMC (acting) chief of hospital Dr. Jose Chan. It is an 89 year old hospital that metamorphosed initially as a 20-bed Misamis Public Hospital in 1918 to a 50-bed Misamis Oriental Provincial Hospital in 1945, then a 200-bed NMRTH in 1966 and finally, as the present 300-bed NMMC in 1995. As a tertiary heath facility, NMMC aims to serve and provide the highest attainable health care in the whole Region 10 and the neighboring provinces and municipalities.

Books To Read

Who's watching Whom? A conversation between the media and the civil society.

Poverty in Mindanao?

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Editorial Cartoon

Peace in Mindanao?

The Pacman

In Mindanao, they called him "Ben". In Luzon, they called him...Benjie, Bondying, and Benj. Anyway, Ben is a native of Capalonga, Camarines Norte; it was the place in the Southern part of Bicol region, wherein hundreds of catholic and non-catholic faith believers lodged during the celebration of the Feast of Jesus of Nazarene.

In his younger age, he spent mostly playing to his elder brother Alex. Ben and Alex were good friends and brothers. Carpentry like making "Bancas" or fishing boats was their fathers usually do. This was also the usual place for Ben and Alex to have more time to play. They also both accompanying their father catching fish and do farming.

At the age of 20, Ben played his role as the eldest brother to his 7 sisters and a younger brother Alvin when Alex accidentally died while studying in Manila. Ben treasured much his brother.

Ben was now married to Alona Viador Castillo with whom he has two children: Christine Joyce 13, and Dianne Angela 7. Ben finished his four-year course (Bachelor of arts major in Political Science) at the University of the East, Manila in 1992. Before he entered U.E., Ben was a former seminarian as he took up AB Philosophy (2nd year) at the Holy Rosary Minor Seminary in Naga City.

In 1996, he joined to Malaya, a national newspaper that circulating throughout the Philippines and Abante, a tabloid newspaper with also has a widely circulated copy not only throughout the Philippines but also in some countries in Asia.

His assignment in Mindanao brought him to cover the severe kidnapping incidents made by the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) including some lawless elements and the government-confessed terrorists... the Abu Sayaff.

Ben was among the reporters like Manila-based Rommel Bagares of Philippine Star and Manny Timonera of Philippine Daily Inquirer who completely covered the peace talks between the GRP and the MILF in Marawi City and signing of an agreement for general cessation of hostilities between government and the MILF at the Pryce Plaza in Cagayan de Oro City.

Before the final signing of the agreement, he has been given the opportunity to met and interviewed privately Ghadzali Jaafar, MILF vice chairman for political affairs and Mohammad Alhaj Murad, MILF military affairs chief at Camp Abubakar in Butig, Lanao del Sur. He also met other MILF's high ranking officials like Lanao del Sur commander Salappudin Mimbantas, MNLF commander of the two Lanao provinces Abdul Jialil Narra, and Commander Bravo of Munai, Lanao del Norte.

He also covered two separate abduction of two foreign priest missionaries Msgr. Desmond Hartford and Fr. Johnham Robert Maez. Hartford was an Irish priest who was abducted by disgruntled members of the MNLF on October 27, 1997.

The kidnappers have been asking the government through National Program for Unification Development Council (NPUDC) to release livelihood funds amounting to P5 million in exchange for priest' release. Ben was among the seven local and national correspondents who covered Hartford's release early Saturday in Tangkal, Lanao del Norte after 13 days' captivity by former commanders of the MNLF's 3rd Mobile Army in Mindanao.

He also covered the kidnapping incident of Robert Johnham Maez, a Columban priest and missionary who were abducted by the MNLF rebel returnees while doing his mission in one of the town in Lanao del Sur. Maez was kidnapped by the MNLF rebel returnees to pressure the government, specifically the NPUDC, who holds their livelihood funds.

In 1997 to 2001, the raging war in central, southern and western Mindanao between the government forces and the MILF, as well as the continued attacks and encounters of the CPP/NPA in Bukidnon and Agusan provinces against the elements of the Army's 4th Infantry Division based at Camp Evangelista, Cagayan de Oro City gave with him another great contribution as his name repeatedly by-lined in said newspapers. His stories were used as headline banners and kept front-pages in Malaya and Abante including in Mindanao Gold Star Daily, a local community newspaper in Mindanao.

Ben was also the first correspondent who took footage at Cebu Pacific's wreckage. He made shots the plane's remains as he was boarded at the Napocor's chopper together with the NAPOCOR's president and AFP's Civil Relations Service head Colonel Nestor Castillo.

In the same year of 1996, He joined in Gold star daily, the biggest newspaper in Mindanao, based in Cagayan de Oro City. Except of being a city reporter, after 3-months, he was appointed by Ernesto G. Chu, the Gold Star Daily's publisher to be the editorial cartoonist. Ben was a newspaperman and an editorial cartoonist for more than ten years now. He was also commissioned as the Executive Editor of the Quarterly Newsletter of the Police Regional Office 10 (PRO-10) of the Philippine National Police since 2002 at present (2007).

Ben loved most writing poetry and playing guitar. Ben has wanted to do this since he was in high school. His writing skills caught the ear of a late University of the Philippines (UP) professor Ephraim C. Romero, handling courses in International Law, International Relations, International Organizations, Comparative Governments, Sociology, Economics and History courses. Ben can be seen as one of the researchers and the book cover designer of International Relations, a Philippine textbook in Political Science, Economics, Business, Sociology and Law authored by Romero, Prof. Edgar V. Rosero and Prof. Roman R. Dannug. The book was foreword by Jose David Lapuz, a 1971 T.O.Y.M. Awardees in Political Science.

Ben was a regular member of COPC, Cagayan de Oro Press Club. He was elected as one of the members of the board in 2006 and was re-elected in 2007. He was a regular member of the National Union of Journalist in the Philippines (NUJP) Cagayan de Oro Chapter and elected as auditor in 2006 - 2007. Ben was also a member of Pecojon, (Peace and Conflict Journalism Network).

Statement of
PECOJON on the Arrest of Journalistsat The Peninsula Manila Hotel

In democracy, we, as journalists, cannot neglect our duty to keep
the public informed about events and processes which concern the public
interest.

Our duty does not diminish when we, as journalists, face dangerous or
uncomfortable situations such as an upcoming engagement of PNP-SWAT
operatives aiming to forcibly remove from The Peninsula Manila Hotel a
group of soldiers and civilians who demand for the ouster of the
President.

As eyes and ears of the public, it is our job to seek information
from those inside the hotel as well as from the forces aiming to remove
them. It is our task to keep the public informed about what is going on.

We, as media practitioners, are not supposed to join the parties
of a conflict, neither by reporting in favor of any side nor by joining
them handcuffed in arrest.

In behalf of our member journalists in the Philippines
and around the world, PECOJON strongly questions the act of arresting
media personnel in The Peninsula Manila Hotel on November 29, 2007. We
remind those in charge that access to information and the freedom to
report to the public is a pillar of democracy.

Legitimate journalists can be quickly and easily identified without
arrest or “processing.” Harassment of journalists, questioning
of press freedom and limiting public access to relevant information mean
questioning democracy as such.PECOJON-The Peace and Conflict Journalism
Network

* PECOJON is an international network of journalists committed to
improving the quality of reporting of conflict, crisis and war through
mainstreaming conflict sensitive reporting, improving journalists’
security and providing training and education.

Moreno condemns botched coup bid

Today’s
actions of Sen. Antonio Trillanes and his Magdalo colleagues must be
condemned for they directly strike at the heart of our constitutional
order. These actions are despicable and have no place in our
society. They are pure and simple anarchy.

We are a
government of laws and not of men, and it is imperative and compelling
that all of us must at all times uphold the rule of law. The
actions of Sen. Trillanes and his Magdalo supporters actually disregard
these fundamental principles that our people hold so dear.

Military
adventurism not only directly contravenes our constitution; it also
destroys our constitutional order, sets a very bad example to our
people, conveys a wrong message to the international community, and sets
back the hard-earned gains of our country.

It
cannot be denied that people at times may encounter or face frustrating
situations. All of us go through these moments. Yet, there
are constitutional remedies. Some may take time, others may be
difficult to many.

But
certainly, there are remedies that our constitutional regime allows.
Military adventurism can never be justified. Neither the gun nor
popularity can provide the justification for a person or his cohorts to
take the law in their own hands.

We fully
support the constitutional authorities of our country, and the fundamental
principle that civilian supremacy over the military must at all times
exist.